Tay Sach's

Tay Sach's - Page Text Content

S: Tay Sachs Disease

BC: Tay Sachs disease is a disorder that weakens the body and unfortunately is deadly to young children but with the help of you as a parent and doctors you can prolong the symptoms of this disease, and help a life.

FC: Tay Sach's Disease | By: Cydni Stickney and Mikayla Brown

1: What it is... A hereditary disorder of lipid metabolism occurring most frequently in individuals of Jewish descent in eastern Europe; accumulation of lipids in nervous tissue results in nerve failure and death in early childhood.

2: Tay Sach's Disease (TSD) is a result of a genetic mutation found in the chromosomes. A child can receive this disease if both parents have the mutated gene. This disease is very rare, usually only 1 in 250 people are carriers of this disorder, but in some

3: communities like ashkenazi Jews, 1 in 27 people carry this chromosomal mutation. Other areas where this trait is common are the French-Canadian community of quabec, old order Amish country in Pennsylvania, and the Cajun population of Louisiana.

4: Symptoms: 1. Slow down of the development 2. Weakening of muscles 3. Loss of motor skills such as turning over, sitting & crawling As the disease progresses these symptoms may occur as well 4. Seizures | Medical Care ;There is no cure ;Seek counseling ;Medication depends on the symptoms ; Enzyme replacement therapy to provide Hex-A that babies lack ; Gene transfer which replaces an abnormal gene

5: 5. Vision loss 6. Reflex to noise 7. Hearing loss 8. Inability to swallow 9. Mental Retardation 10. Paralysis 11.Dementia Life Expectancy ; Kids afflicted with the disease live to about 5 years old but if they survive longer they can only live up to 12 or 13 years of age.

6: Therapy and education for your child.... As the child and disease progress in development, the child may benefit from physical therapy to help keep the joints flexible and reduce the chance of muscle and joint failure. Physical therapy is an effective option to help fight against the symptom of losing some or all mobility that goes with having this disease. Many children with TSD are home schooled because of the lack of functioning in the joints, muscles, and the nerves that are needed for day to day school life.